A female student at the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta has alleged that she was raped by a second-year male student inside the boys’ hostel. The Haridevpur police have detained one person on Friday after the survivor filed a formal complaint.
The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the academic community, took place just two weeks after an incident of gang-rape was reported at South Calcutta Law College.
The Telegraph reported that the survivor said in her complaint that she was taken to the hostel under the pretext of a counselling session. Once there, she was offered pizza and drinks. She alleged that she lost consciousness shortly after consuming them. When she regained consciousness, she found herself inside the hostel and claimed she had been raped.
She further alleged that the accused threatened her with serious consequences if she dared to speak out.
The survivor reportedly managed to leave the premises on her own and went directly to Thakurpukur police station. From there, she was referred to the Haridevpur police, under whose jurisdiction the IIM Calcutta campus falls.
Police detained one male student from the hostel on the same night, though investigators stated that it was still being verified whether the detained individual was indeed the prime suspect.
Initial investigations have revealed that the survivor and the accused had first connected through social media. Following a disagreement with another acquaintance, the survivor turned to the accused for guidance. He invited her to the campus to talk. A mutual friend accompanied her initially, state reports. But at some point, the accussd allegedly insisted on a private discussion and took her to a vacant hostel room where the assault is said to have occurred.
The police are currently scanning CCTV footage from the hostel and questioning other students to gather more evidence. The efficacy of security protocols inside the hostel is also being scrutinised.
The administration of IIM Calcutta has been kept in the loop. However, the institute is yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
The case has reignited concerns around student safety on university campuses. Several students have called for a fair, transparent, and time-bound investigation into the matter.
